I made a decision to make a frugal gift of
potholders for the granddaughter's teacher's for their Thanksgiving day
table. Since I knew it was a big thing for them as far as educating the
children about the American Indian and legends of these people, we began
our project, the children and I.

The kids went with me as we began our
foray through the town in order to pick up materials. It was my wish to
find a heavy fabric for the pot holders, and of a particular color. I
wanted a burnt red which would be reminding them of our Native American
heritage and a loved color. No other color would do. Also, it was my
idea to trim the burnt red with a small rick rack of metallic gold,
adding a touch for a festive occasion.

After the second store and not finding
exactly what I wanted I decided we needed fuel for the car and to have
the oil checked also. Twenty (20) dollars went into the gas tank and
plus the price of the oil.

The third store had the fabric. It was
ten (10) dollars a yard (there abouts).

The gold trim was five (5). So now we
have spent a total of thirty five dollars but not to complain, the color
was perfect for the pot holders and they were a nice weight, actually a
light upholstery fabric which would set flat on the table nicely for hot
pots.

Oh yes, while I was in the fabric store I
saw they had a good buy on some pinking, roller cutters. They were
twenty (20) dollars.

The kids had been bribed to be model
children by promising them a treat for lunch at McDonald's. This gobbled
up another twenty (20) dollars, and since I was just across from
Albertson's food market I felt it would be good to pick up a few things,
milk etc. along with the gum and candy bars slipped into the basket came
to another twenty (20) dollars.

Rounding the figures off I believe we
probably spent around one hundred dollars.

After the pot holders were made they were
setting by the door ready for the granddaughter to take with her as she
came through and my husband noticed them. "Hmm," he noted,
"I see you made some pot holders. How much did those cost
you?" he knew I always kept an account of what was spent on a
project.

"Oh I'd say, around twenty dollars a
piece," came the reply.

"Hmm, well....." her husband
wasn't getting into any break down of costs at this time of the morning.
"Well, okay," Whatever," he smiled.

Easy Potholder Directions:

With pinking shears, or a roller cutter
with a pinking round cutter blade, cut two nine inch squares from a
splashy designed fabric. Use heavy fabric. You already have saved old
towels. From these towels cut two or three squares of eight inches for
the inside padding. Since I buy only white towels which never fade we
use them until they are almost threadbare. Therefore, I usually have to
cut three squares for the padding.

Using long quilting pins, if you have
them, pin the fabrics together, toward the middle. Padding, of course,
is in the middle of the outside fabrics. Do not hem. Instead, sew a seam
about one inch from the edge. Sew another seam this time about two
inches in from the edge. Before you finish sew across from corner to
corner making an X. After you have finished if the edges are not quite
matched simply trim off with the pinking roller cutter until they do.

Find a matching colored ribbon, or a
piece of lace. Cut about three inches long. Make a loop and sew at one
of the corners for hanger.

Blue Jean Pocket Pincushion Directions

Cut around the edges of the back pocket
of an old pair of blue jeans with pinking shears, leaving enough room
around the pocket for a seam.

Cut from the legs another square the same
size. Sew the two squares together. Now stuff the pocket with fiber fill
and sew across the top of the pocket. For blue jeans you must use your
heaviest needle for the sewing machine. When finished add safety pins,
straight pins, needles on your blue jeans pocket pin cushion.

The pin cushion, the pot holders, and a
box of pretty colored paper clips or some other small items can go into
a clean, clear, plastic soda pop bottle you have saved. Just slit the
back side and the gifts will fit nicely inside. Tie this up with a curly
bright ribbon around the neck of the bottle and everyone of the
teacher's will get a gift.

The children are fascinated with the pop
bottle and not knowing about the slit on the back wonder how you were
able to put the objects in the bottle, something akin to a "ship in
a bottle," idea. It is all for having fun.

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